Apparatus for separating composite glass plates



Nov. ll, 1932. E. L. FIX 1,885,245

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING COMPOSITE-GLASS PLATES )Filed Feb. 21, 1929 INVENTOR Patented Nov. I, 1932 UNITED `STATES' PATENT; OFFICE EARL L. FIX, OF NEW KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T DUPIATE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR SEPABATING COMPOSITE GLASS PLATES Application led February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,630.

v The invention relates to apparatus for use in separating composite glass plates after theglass sheets have been cracked and the pyralin plastic sheet has been heated to permit it to stretch. This stretching is for the purpose of separating` the edges of one of the glass sheets at the crack suiiciently to permit the insertion of a thin cutting tool, such as a razor blade, which is inserted in the crack so that it's edge engages the plastic and is then drawn lengthwise of such crack. The object of the present invention is to provide simple, convenient means for accomplishing the stretching action positively and without injury to the glass. Certain embodiments of the invention are shown -in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 1s a perspective view of one form of apparatus as applied to a composite glass plate. Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section through the composite plate after the device has operated to partially separate the two sections of the plate.- And Fig. 4 is an 'enlarged section through one of the clamping members. Re erring to the drawing, 1 is a rectangular frameof metal carrying at one end the U-shaped clamping members 2, 2 provided' with the thumb screws 3, 3 which engage the '80 clamping plates 4, 4 at their lower ends.

These plates are each provided with a pair of guide pins v5, 5 slidably engaging the holes 6, 6 (Fig. 4) in the members 2, 2. The lower faces of the plates 4, 4 and the opposing faces of the members 2, 2 are provided with cushionin strips 7, 7 of rubber or felt to avoid scratc ing the glass.

The clamping members 2, 2 are adapted to engage one edge of the composite plate 8, while the other edge is engaged by the clamp ing members 9, 9, 9, similar to the members 2, 2 and similarly equipped with thumb screws, clamping plates and guide pins. .bracket 10 is provided on the end of the frame 1, and through this bracket a threaded rod 11 slidably extends, being/ rovided at its inner end with an eye 12 in w ich is mounted a ring 13. The central clamping member 9 is provided with a rod 14 having an e 'e through which the ring 13 extends, while e placed in a bath of hot water.

side clamping members 9, 9, are provided Y with eye bolts 15, 15 secured to the ring 13 by the coil springs 16, 16. The rod `11 is provided with a sto nut 17 and an adjusting nut 18, a spring 19 being interposed between the bracket 10 and the adjusting nut.

vThe apparatus, as described and illustrated, is designed to separate the composite plate 8 along the curved line 20 (Fig. 1). The plate 8 comprises a pair of glass sheets 2l, 21 (Fig. 3) cemented or otherwise secured to the central sheet of tough material 22, such as pyralin or Celluloid.

The operation is as follows. The glass sheets 21 and 22 are Erst scored and cracked along the line of cut 20, this being accomplished by the use of a wheel or diamond in the usual way. The apparatus is then applied to the plate as indicated in Fig. 1, the thumb screws 3 being turned down so that the clamps grip the plate tightly. The nut 18 is then adjustedinward until the spring 19 is strongl compressed and the nut 17 is positioned7 so that its face is about one-eighth of an inch away from the face of the bracket. The plate 8 with the apparatus thus applied is In a short time the water softens the sheet 22 to such an extent that the spring 19 (which applies its power, tending to move the clamps 33 away from the clamps 9, 9, 9) causes the sheet 22 to stretch opposite the line of cut 20, thus opening up the crack 23 (Fig. 3), such stretching movement being limited by the nut 17 whose face now engages the bracket 10. The plate with its stretching device is now removed from the heating bath and the sheet22 f is cut by inserting a knife through the crack 23. If desired, the use of the spring 19 and the stop nut 17 may be dispensed with, the nut 18 being in such case screwed in to secure the desired separation after the sheet 22has been suiciently softened by the bath."

The springs '16, 16 are relatively very stiff and act substantially as links having aslight amount of give, so that the pull applied by the rod 11 is transmitted to the side clamps distributed, although the device may 'be op- 10 mames erated satisfactorily' using only the center one of the three clamps 9, 9, 9.

at l claim is:

l.. Apparatus for separating a composite glass plate made up of a pair of glass sheets secured to the op osite sides of a sheet of tough material a ter the glassv sheets have been cracked, comprising gripping devices faced with yielding anti-slip materlal adapt'- m ed to be clamped to the opposite edges of said plate, and spreadin means extending between said devices an adapted to apply stress tending to separate said devices and thus stretch the sheet of tough material, said w spreading means includin a spring and adjustable stop lmeans for 'mitmg the range of movement of the spreading means.

2. pparatusfor separating a composite glass plate formed of a pair of glass sheets 2@ secured to opposite sides of a sheet of tough material after the glass sheets have heen p cracked, comprising a plurality of stationary clamping devices, a plurality of oppositely disposed movable \clamping devices, yield 25 able operating means directl connected to one of the movable devices, a ditional yieldable means connecting the other movable devices to the operating means, and means for limiting the degree of separating movement 30 of the clamping devices.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto suhscribed my name this 8th day of February,

EARL L. Fm. 

